Changing the pace

It is nice that winter finally got here and we have a chance to ride around on the frozen roads and trails. Our parks department does a pretty good job of keeping the trails nicely cleared but there is always ice and all the footprints in the sludge get frozen into place. It just reminds me of the need for studded tires and how usefull they are.

It makes the commute a different form of challenge, like attacking a really treacherous MTB single track. It won't take long for the novelty to wear off, but winter will be over by then. In the meantime, it's just fun to do a little different riding. I stopped for a beer on the way home and the bartender (a former student) asked if I had ridden my bike there. She, of all people, should have known better, but a guy next to me asked how I could stand the cold. I said: "I worked up a bit of a sweat getting here, did you?" "No" he said. I replied, "I guess I was warmer." He just stared.